Brownies from Scratch

Brownies from Scratch

Dudes — the #twofer for Brownies from Scratch recipe is 1st a wonderful fudge type brownie (right out of the oven) OR 2nd let it stand for a moist cake like consistency when left to completely cool. Two results – One recipe! #Score

Anyway you like it ~ Anyway you want it ~ there simply are not any wrong answers here!  😉

This makes one 8×8 pan. Just big enough to satisfy a hungry grand & her Papa; (plus, leaving a few for a grand breakfast the next morning!)

Ingredients:

• 1c sugar
• 1/2c flour
• 1/3c cocoa
• 1/4 tsp salt (See Note)
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2c vegetable oil
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Mix everything together thoroughly, ensuring there are no lumps or bumps. Spray an 8×8 pan with PAM or grease with butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

Note : I happen to think these were great just as they were BUT our grand is honing in her palate to which she informed me “there was too much salt”. So, may I suggest a tasting before baking to ensure the salt factor isn’t over powering for your palate!

And seriously, I encourage you to play around with texture & flavor by tossing in some roasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds. Another lovely combo is to swirl in 1/4 c peanut butter or chocolate chips. The options are endless!  

Brownies from Scratch can be stored (or gifted!) by mixing-up all of the dry ingredients in a Ziploc bag. Be sure to label the outside with wet ingredients, oven temperature and timing. Perfect for a quick late night craving or as an addition to a gift basket for a new mom or college student.

I’m always searching out new recipes and while these are sure to tame the cravings of chocoholics everywhere, I came across them totally by mishap. Y’all know I go to Pinterest for inspiration from other cooks. It was there, I came across a pin for brownies leading me to www.afewshortcuts.com and Amanda who shared a different scratch brownie recipe. However, I quickly realized the pinned shortcut recipe wasn’t the same as the recipe image that caught my eye. And full disclosure; Brownies from Scratch was copied from the image.

I sure wish I knew who to thank for sharing. If you know who curated this lovely gem, won’t you send them my way? Click to be taken to the original pin.

Do you have a young aspiring cook in the family?

Encourage their passion with this Stonewall Kitchen Farmhouse Batter Bowl Gift (Click Here) Inspiring breakfast everywhere!

 

Till Next Time ~

Domesticated Rebellion

 

Disclaimer: This writing contains affiliate marketing links. Meaning, if you visit, click & buy – I could be compensated. So, Thank You!

 

 

 

Home-made Sloppy Joes

HOME-MADE SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES

Easy to make, easy to serve and even easier to clean up. #Tripplehitter

Sloppy Joe sandwiches; a perfect simple dinner whipped up in no time when my babygirl & family unexpectedly came to visit for the day. I don’t have to tell y’all moms how awesome it feels to have your adult kiddos want to come over ‘just because’. No hidden agendas, not needing or wanting anything – just the desire to hang out. ♥

My heart ♥loves♥ visits like that!

Thinking of dinner earlier that day, I had already thawed 1-1/2 lbs of ground chuck. And while visiting & watching TV, I randomly started looking for recipes that would stretch enough to feed all of us *without* my having to run to the grocery store.

That’s when Pinterest (♥) showed me a pin “The Best Sloppy Joes”! Something that was a staple for me as a child but not so much for my own kiddos when they were growing up. I can honestly say it’s probably been 15 YEARS (or more) since we’ve had “Sloppy Joes” because my way was to use Manwich Sauce & the hubs was never a fan…

Until now! This is a winner for dinner at my house. No lie, every one of us had second helpings of this recipe (even my most picky eater!) #winning 🙂

So ~ if you’re looking for a meal that is hearty, easy, inexpensive, made with everyday pantry staples and let me not forget filling – then try this recipe out. Perfect for the next time you need a quick dish to satisfy the hungry mouths around your table!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of ground beef/chuck
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped
• 1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 Tbs Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp ground mustard
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Bread or Buns

1. Cook your hamburger meat with the onion, then drain, adding it back to your skillet. (I halved my meat as my son in-law is allergic to all things onion!)
2. Make your sauce by mixing the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl then add to your drained meat; simmering about 10 minutes.
3. Toast your buns (or not) & top with your favorite condiment, add some cheese (or not), then heap a ladle of the meat mix on your buns, adding to your plate chips, veggies or whatever your flavor and Dig In! (Be sure to have a napkin handy!)

I already know I’ll be making this sooner than the next 15 yrs!

Note: My usual fashion is to provide #twofers; an original recipe that inspires my remake. While I can remake this adding other ingredients such as sweet peppers or garlic, I chose not to because it is incredible just as it is. Thank you Meggan for sharing this recipe! Y’all should check out her other goodies at www.CulinaryHill.com!

Tell me about a favorite of yours to make when company comes over.

Til Next Time,

Domesticated Rebellion

Disclaimer: This particular writing does not contain affiliate links but my page does. Meaning, if you visit, click & buy, I could be compensated. So, Thank You!

 

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls ~ Old School Recipe

A single place where good & gooey and sweet & sugary combine together with unforgettable buttery flavor.

Impressingly it was pure nostalgia coming from my oven the afternoon I decided to try these on for size. A whiff of reminiscences crepted thru my kitchen to fill every room in the house. Provoking memories of yester-year while inticing current hunger… and, instead of satisfying that hunger with something resembling lunch ~ I waited.  I waited for these beauties to be done. Correction: WE waited.

Um… Dare I testify: “don’t do that!” For Realz! This is NOT one of those “do as I do” moments. Otherwise you will accidentally eat them all like we did! (well, almost all) #sugarrush

I’m not sure “how old” equals “old school” either but if you are, let’s say, 30 years or older then you might recall when fresh hand-made cinnamon rolls were actually rolled out by your cafeteria ladies. 

They were one of the best things about school.

Of course, this was wwwwaaaayyyyy before we cared about the calorie intake of our student body. When pizza was tasty, sloppy joes were greasy and whole milk was available in white and chocolate! Before the public school lunches were hijacked.

Oh, how I recall wheeling & dealing for any extra cinnamon rolls too. I’d wipe tables, put up trays, stack chairs. #MmmMmmSoGood

My fave way to eat them was to unwind each roll so I could enjoy the soft tender dough, layer by layer. Occasionally, anticipation or lack of remaining lunch time would force me to simply sink deep into the center, combining all of those layers into a single sticky mouthful! Either way, I always tasted the sugary glaze first, followed by nuttiness of pecans ~ a slight sweetness from the dough ~ ending with a buttery, sugary, cinnamon

burst bouncing over my taste buds beginning at the tip of my tongue with each bite.

In my opinion, even the cinnamon rolls sold at the State Fair are not as good as the ones from school ‘back in the day.

So if you’re ready for your taste buds to take a trip down memory lane (or simply want a bomb ass cinnamon roll, head to the pantry with this recipe in hand:

Dough Ingredients:

• 2 pkgs. yeast
• 2 cups warm milk
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt (omit if you use salted butter)
• 2 tbsp softened butter
• 5 cups all-purpose flour (for softer dough add 1 egg & increase butter to 1/4 cup)

Filling:

• 3/4 lb butter
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 3 tbsp cinnamon

Glaze:

• 2 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tsp vanilla

 

Dissolve yeast in milk. Add sugar, salt & butter. Mix Well. Add flour gradually mixing well after each addition. Knead and let rise until double in bulk. Heavily butter two 9×13 pans. Lightly oil board (or flour counter) and roll out dough into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Spread filling evenly over dough. Roll up tightly, sealing edges. Let rise until double.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Glaze as soon as they come out of the oven.

I have to credit my cousin for sharing this recipe (Thanks Cuzz!) & http://www.cook.com

Note: I only baked 1/2 of a batch tossing the other 1/2 in the freezer without adding the filling & before the second rise.

The dough freezes well for future cinnamon roll treats! #thereisyourtwofer

Do you have a favorite from past school days? Yeast Rolls were my #2!

 

Til Next Time ~

Domesticated Rebellion

Disclaimer: This specific writing does not contain affiliate links but my site does. Meaning when you visit ~ if you click & buy, I could be compensated.

So, Thank You!

Leftover Turkey Enchilada Casserole

Ya know the saying “Life goes on“? Well, it does! So does the life of the Thanksgiving turkey. Its edible life that is.

Historically, I have never really enjoyed turkey; much less leftover turkey. I’m more about the cornbread sage dressing with gravy and Ham. Turkey, meh. But on the serious, what would Thanksgiving be without turkey?

Hmmm, I guess it would still be Thanksgiving. Go figure. However, the point is we always have left over turkey. Doesn’t everyone? In years past, it would normally get ground up & made into turkey salad but… wait for it….

I’m not a big fan of the ground version. Or the turkey salad hubby always makes. Only took 20 years for my secret to get out, lol.. And, at risk of sounding like my mom – this year I decided to embrace her motto (or whoever it was) ‘Waste not – want not‘ and off I was to do (or not do) just that.

Therefore, lookout Pinterest, here I come! Have I told you how much I love Pinterest!?!

Anyway, cruising thru Pinterest boards I came across a couple of recipes. One for Turkey Enchiladas (I’ve made enchiladas before with chicken, beef or pork but never turkey). And the other, Turkey Carnitas. Did you know: Carnitas, literally meaning “little meats”, is a dish of Mexican cuisine originating from the state of Michoacán. Carnitas are made by braising or simmering pork in oil or preferably lard until tender. Wikipedia

So after seeing both recipes, not being able to decide which one I wanted to try; Yup, you know it.. I mixed them up! Be sure to click on the links for the individual recipes.

Shhh, not to brag or anything but the results were outstanding according to hubs & son. Not too shabby if I do say so myself too!

First, I decided to crisp up my turkey (think carnitas!) Next, I grilled sweet onions. (I know crazy huh? Onions are not typical with enchiladas BUT neither is turkey!) When I pulled out my corn tortillas I discovered they were starting to crumble around one of the edges. Even though I had another package on hand, I decided to make the enchiladas into a casserole using up those bad boys. Bad being good in this case.

The rest I think is fairly typical. I put a couple of spoonfuls of Green Chili Enchilada sauce on the bottom of my pan, layered corn tortillas on top followed by refried beans, sour cream, braised turkey, grilled onion, black beans, cheddar cheese and more sauce. I have two layers working here which was plenty! *Red sauce would work well; use what you prefer and like

Once you complete your layers ~ Smoosh them puppies down with a spatula so your green sauce & cheese topping don’t bubble over in the oven. Bake @ 400 until hot and the cheese is melted.

This is filling. Cheesy. Spicy but doesn’t have to be. And perfect use of the leftover turkey. This might just become my future go-to!

What do you do with your Turkey leftovers?

Til Next Time~

Domesticated Rebellion

 

 

Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings

Baby it’s cold outside!

When the temps start dropping outside, that’s my cue for stick to your ribs grub for my guys! They work out in the elements and need the comfort of home warming them from the inside out!

While searching Pinterest (I love Pinterest) for dinner ideas I usually have the Food Network on in the back ground. On this particular day #KatieLee and #TheKitchen caught my eye (and my belly)!

NOTE: You may have seen these pics already if you follow me anywhere but here. Sorry for the duplication but this really is worth it! LOL.

Chicken and Dumplings  Something I had tried and tried (and failed and failed). No lie.

I had tried for FOREVER to make dumplings. Only once have I ever made fluffy dumplings & for the life of me – could never repeat. (Until now) They always ended up as a tasteless gobble of goo. Can you say Yuk!

Anyone else been there?

And then there it was! Katie Lee and all her glory showing me what I needed to do!

Oh Happy Dance!

Excitement building at seeing her fluffy, light and beautiful Dumplings! Immediately I knew what was for dinner!

Of course, I switched things up (as I always do) and I couldn’t be happier with the end result!

First, I made my own stock with onion, carrot, celery, thyme, garlic and a whole chicken. (Memories of my first effort to cut up a chicken make me chuckle… I butchered that baby beyond recognition, haha!)

Creating your own stock is easy. It tastes so much better than canned, although canned stock is totally acceptable! The delicious aroma will waif through your home having  your family anxiously awaiting to be called for dinner time!

Now, mine has an orange appearance because I used the vegetable medley from my stock as a substitute for the flour thickener.

Remember the carrots?

Ya, don’t let the color fool you!

Whatcha think?

Glorious Happy Ending! (of the food kind, of course..LOL)

Also, I skipped the mixed vegetables and went with my ‘now’ family tradition of using the medley for flavor, but you can still see some chunky carrots.

Tweak this to your own taste buds!

These are Beyond scrumptious! (and totally rib sticking & undo your top button worthy!)

Try it! I can promise you will love it!

Til Next Time~

Domesticated Rebellion